EAST GREENWICH TWP. — East Greenwich Township Mayor Fred Grant was charged with driving while intoxicated late Tuesday night after allegedly speeding through the Gloucester County town at 91 mph.

Grant, 42, a Democrat who has been mayor since 2008 and in office since 2004, allegedly was clocked speeding in a 45 mph zone, headed north on Kings Highway near Tomlin Station Road, according to Police Chief Barry Jenkins.

It took the police officer about a mile to catch up to Grant, Jenkins said, but the mayor reportedly pulled over immediately when the officer activated his car’s overhead light bar, near Botto Otto Drive.

The officer reportedly smelled alcohol on the mayor’s breath and conducted a field sobriety test, which provided enough reason to have Grant take a breath test, said Jenkins.

“He was above the legal limit,” the chief said.

According to Grant, his blood alcohol limit was .11.

He said he was returning home from a business meeting in Swedesboro where he had consumed “several drinks” before receiving a call from his daughter saying he was needed at home.

“I was wrong. I didn’t handle it like I should,” he said. “I apologize for the negativity that will shine on our township because of this. But it’s a personal situation, not political. I’m not going to let it impact my mayoral duties for the people.”

Grant was charged with DWI, speeding and careless driving.

If convicted, a first offense for DWI in New Jersey can result in license suspension for seven months to a year, a fine of up to $400 and a $1,000 a year surcharge for three years.

Grant is the second Gloucester County official this week to be charged with driving while intoxicated. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-4 of Washington Township, was charged with DWI and refusal to take the breath test when he was pulled over Tuesday afternoon in his hometown.

Despite the circumstances, Grant applauded the East Greenwich police department for treating him like any other driver on the township’s roads.

“If there is a bright side, I can say we have the best department in the county,” he said. “No matter who you are they do their job. I was charged and I will be going through the court process like any other individual.”

Jenkins said he has no knowledge of any previous DWI charges against Grant.

The court hearing for the charges will be moved out of the county to avoid conflicts, Jenkins said.